Need the experts advice?

There is no medication for RAD. The med your using is for ADHD and if it is actually affective, I'd question the diagnosis. Some of my children with RAD would be fine at school all day and blow up at home so definately monitor the weekends to check for that pattern. There are some longer lasting or better ADHD meds or maybe they can add a dose later in the day if it's really working.

It is my understanding that the ritalin SR.......IS time-released? My son takes Adderall XR (or maybe it's SR).....but the reason for the initials is that it is time-released. Makes a huge difference. You may have wished that your child was bi-polar rather than RAD. As Lucy states, there IS no med for RAD. There are tons of meds to help with bi-polar; and it should not be underestimated that RAD often goes with bi-polar.....and the two often get confused. RAD is a very complex disorder and there are many different ways in an attempt to help your child (various therapies, etc). Ultimately, the child has to see for himself/herself, that s/he wants to attach and trust people. It can be a very uphill climb. Certainly you would be helping yourself to get involved with a support group for parents with RAD children. Sincerely, Linny

Ritalin and medications are not for Reactive Attachment Disorder. The only effective treatment for attachment problems is Dyadica Developmental Psychotherapy, an attachment based treatment. Family therapy, play therapy, etc are not effective for children with RAD. My website has empirical evidence to support these statements. It is essential that you find a therapist who has training in this area to help you...you can find someone in your region at [url]www.ATTACH.org,[/url] the Assoc for the Treatment and training in the Attachment of Children. Regards

The best Ritalin is the Concerta brand which actually lasts almost 12 hours!! Yes! I think I would need something for depression if I didn't have it !! It comes in 18mg, smallest dose-7yo uses it, but he is outgrowing it already; 27mg sometimes, but have not used it. Then 36mg, we use for the 9yo; And 54mg which we use for the 11yo. The pdoc says they are making an 84mg or something for older children soon. I have 5 foster/adopts w/ADHD symptoms. One IS bipolar for sure! He is new on Depakote as a mood stabilizer. One is Rad(or was-he is so much better!) and I think he is bipolar, too, because he still has the rages but not against ME anymore. What a relief! No meds yet. We love the Concerta and it has less side-effects than the Adderall XR which is only an 8 hour pill. Our pdoc was so good to let us have what we wanted. They say to use the meds all day long and weekends, too, and just to have a med break sometime during the year. I think the quality of life is doubled for my kids who are almost shunned by others due to their behaviors when they are not on meds. I wouldn't let them go without it as long as I have the choice. Also, since your daughter has done well on Ritalin so far, it is a good rule of thumb that she is NOT Bipolar. Most bp kids do well for a couple of months on ADHD, and then fall apart, or exhibit worse behavior. My RADish did this-sent him into month long depression(DR. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde) where we were lucky to keep him from leaving our family and church, since he was 17. That is why he is off meds-I prefer his "normal" depression/rages to the hyperfocused ones he had on the ADHD meds. Boy, was that an awful month! It took me a whole month to figure out it was the meds doing it to him! He's back to his usual, mostly, sweet/lovable self now. Good luck-tjp

there is a new drug for adhd that acts more like an anti depressant - takes awhile to kick in, but then lasts consistently. Stratera

I have been fostering 3 boys for the last couple of months. One is Rad. He is also ADHD he is taking Ritalin la which is suppost to be all day. I do notice that it has worn off by the end of the day. He is 9 and is learning to control himself. He went home to his mother yesterday. We only saw 1 outburst from him which he said was an accident, he hit his brother in the face with a water bottle. His brother who is 7 when we got him he could not sit still and had no concentration ability at all. We got him also put on Ritalin La 20 mg and that seemed to help alot. He did have some side effects of Halluciantion (SP?). The doctor said that was normal. The last child we got is 4 and we just got him and plan to adopt him. it is because of him I found you post. He is suppost to be bi-polar. He takes Concerta in the morning and Clonidine at bedtime. I am looking up these drugs now. What I have found out so far is that bi-polar is massive mood swings. "Abe" (not his real name) will be fine one min and then the next he is picthing the wildest baby fit you have ever seen cring, kicking, headbutting, and tring to run away. Usually we only see the cring and kicking. If you know of anything that can help me please let me know. ALso, keep your chin up I know that it is hard and fustrating that sometimes no one can help your child or you....:-)

If he has Bipolar Disorder he should be on a mood stabalizer and, maybe, an atypical antipsychotic...but you should discuss this with the child's child psychiatrist. You may also want to get a thorough evaluation by a specialist who evaluates and treates adopted and foster children. Often such children are misdiagnosed with ADHD and many other conditions. You can find someone at [URL=http://attach.org]ATTACh[/URL] You might also want to read the book The Bipolar Child. regards